Apparatus for storing fishing lures

ABSTRACT

A storage device for fishing lures comprising a rigid spool, having a hollow interior, and a hollow lure storage element extending across the hollow interior is described. The spool has an outer surface defining an annular channel comprising a floor and two side walls extending from said floor for receiving a leader line of a fishing lure. Each of the ends of the storage element intersect with the floor of the channel to define openings in the floor of the channel. In one embodiment, at least a portion of at least one of the openings is curved to reduce the possibility for “kinking” the leader line. At least one of said walls contains a plurality of slots that will receive the end of the leader line as will also be explained below. A small aperture located on the floor adjacent to at least one of the openings receives the lead hook of a fishing lure. A tab having a hole extends from the periphery of one of said walls to permit hanging of the device.

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.09/633,446, filed Aug. 7, 2000.

[0002] This invention relates to devices for organizing and storingfishing lures.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Washington Irving once wrote, “There is certainly something inangling that tends to produce a gentleness of spirit, and a pureserenity of mind.” No doubt, Mr. Irving had in mind the peaceful momentsof the sport of fishing when an individual has his pole in hand and lineand lure in the water. Nothing in life is ever quite that easy or thatperfect. Fishing is no different. As the best anglers in the businessare well aware, frustrations abound along the way to landing the bigone. Not least of these is the often tedious task of sorting out thehooks, lures, weights, leaders and other devices fishermen must assemblebefore making that first cast. How many times has an angler, havingglimpsed a large dorsal fin within striking distance, missed out on theopportunity to add to his trophy case because of an inability to equiphis line in a timely manner? The instant device gives every angler hopethat this nightmare will not repeat itself.

[0004] Fishing lures do not lend themselves to convenient and efficientstorage, especially when the lures are rigged with wire or monofilamentleader (as is usually the case). As even the average angler well knows,keeping more than just a few lures in the same compartment of a tacklebox is a difficult proposition. The hooks of one lure often becomeentangled with the hooks of one or more other lures. The leader lines,which are often several feet in length, frequently become entangled. Toavoid such entanglements, anglers often remove the leader line and storeit separately, but this takes away from the time that could otherwise beused fishing. It also requires additional storage space.

[0005] Furthermore, the odd shapes and sizes of the near-infinitevariety of lures makes storage difficult. Many lures have delicatefeatures such as feathers or other “skirt” materials that can be easilydamaged by entanglements and improper storage. Even the largest, mostexpensive tackle boxes do not have enough compartments of various shapesand sizes to store efficiently the multiple lures that fishermen oftenpossess.

[0006] The general object of the invention is to permit fishing lures ofvariable shapes and sizes to be efficiently stored, transported andhandled. Utilization of the instant device eliminates entanglements ofthe lures and leader lines that can hinder the fishing experience andsometimes result in damage to the lure itself. Proper use of theinvention will protect and extend the useful life of fishing lures whichcan often be expensive. It is a further object of this invention toprovide a device that is affordable to manufacture and purchase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] These and other objects and advantages are obtained in a deviceand method for storing fishing lures. The invention is a storage devicecomprised of a rigid spool, having a hollow interior. The annular outersurface of said spool is generally concave and defines an annularchannel for receiving the leader line as will be described below. Saidchannel is comprised of a floor and two side walls that extend from saidfloor. At least one of said walls contains a plurality of slots thatwill receive the end of the leader line as will also be explained below.A tab having a hole extends from the periphery of one of said walls topermit hanging of the device.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment, the spool is generally cylindrical,although it is anticipated that other shapes could be employed. Theinner diameter of the spool will vary and depend primarily on the sizeof the lure to be stored therein.

[0009] A hollow lure storage element extends across the hollow interiorof the spool. Each of the ends of said storage element intersect withthe floor of the channel to define openings in the floor of the channel.In one embodiment, at least a portion of at least one of the openings iscurved, as is described in more detail below. It will be appreciatedthat the curved opening reduces the possibility for “kinking” the leaderline that otherwise might result from winding the leader line around thechannel if the curved opening was not present.

[0010] In one embodiment, the storage element has a generally circularcross-section. However, it is anticipated that alternate configurationsof the storage element may be employed. For example, the storage elementmay have a generally square cross-section, a generally ovalcross-section, a generally triangular cross-section, or a generallyhexagonal cross-section. A small aperture is located in the floor of thechannel adjacent to the openings. Said aperture receives the tip of thetrailing hook of the fishing lure so that it can be secured in place andreduce the possibility of snaring other objects. The storage elementshould be made of firm but flexible material to allow for a secure fitaround the lure without causing damage to the lure. It is furtheranticipated that the material used to make the storage element should benon-opaque to permit the lure stored therein to be viewed. Clear plasticis one example of a material that could be used to make the storageelement.

[0011] The present invention enables the user to store, transport andaccess numerous pre-rigged artificial lures without the usualfrustrations of entanglement and premature wear and tear on the luresand leader lines. In addition, the present invention is affordable tomanufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] These and other objects of the present invention, as well as itsadvantages and capabilities, will be more fully understood by referenceto the following detailed description when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of one embodiment of thepresent invention with sample fishing lure before being loaded in theinvention.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional, side view of one embodiment of thepresent invention with sample fishing lure stored in place.

[0015]FIG. 3A is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 3B is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of the alternate embodiment ofthe present invention illustrated in FIG. 3B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus for storing fishinglures is illustrated. The apparatus comprises a rigid spool 1 having ahollow interior 2 and an annular, external channel 3. Said channel 3 iscomprised of a floor 4, and two outer walls, 5 and 6, extending fromsaid floor 4. As will be described more fully below, said channel 3provides the means by which the leader line of a fishing lure can bewound in place.

[0019] A hollow lure storage element 7 extends across said interior 2 ofsaid rigid spool 1. The storage element 7 has a first end 8, a secondend 9, a first midpoint radius 20 and a second midpoint radius 22. Thefirst and second ends, 8 and 9 respectfully, intersect with the floor 4of the channel 3 to define openings, 10 and 11, in the floor 4 of thechannel 3. Each opening 10 and 11 has a first opening radius 24 and asecond opening radius 26. In one embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, andmore clearly shown in FIG. 3A, at least one end (illustrated in thisembodiment as end 9) of the storage element 7 intersects the floor 4 ofchannel 3 to define an opening (illustrated in this embodiment asopening 11) such that the first opening radius 24 is greater than thefirst midpoint radius 20. As a result of the differences in radii 20 and24, a portion of the opening (illustrated in this embodiment as opening11) intersects the floor 4 of channel 3 in a curved, or sloped, mannerindicated at 15. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A, the second openingradius 26 is substantially equal to the second midpoint radius 22, suchthat a portion of the end (illustrated in this embodiment as end 9)intersects the floor 4 of channel 3 in a non-curved manner, indicated at16.

[0020] In an alternate embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3B and 4, atleast one end (in this embodiment illustrated as end 9) of the storageelement 7 intersects the floor 4 of channel 3 to define an opening(illustrated in this embodiment as opening 11) such that the firstopening radius 24 is greater than the first midpoint radius 20 and thesecond opening radius 26 is greater than the second midpoint radius 22.As a result of the difference in radii 20 and 24, and 22 and 26, twoportions of the opening (illustrated in this embodiment as opening 11)intersect the floor 4 of channel 3 in a curved, or sloped, mannerindicated at 15A and 15B.

[0021] The amount of curvature, or slope, introduced can be varied byvarying the difference in the first midpoint radius 20 and the firstopening radius 24, and/or the difference in the second midpoint radius22 and the second opening radius 26. The amount of curvature issufficient to reduce the kinking of the lead line. Such determination iswell within the ordinary skill in the art.

[0022] Although not illustrated for clarity of the drawings andspecification, it is considered within the scope of the disclosure ifboth ends 8 and 9 intersect with the floor 4 of channel 3 to defineopenings 10 and 11 in a sloped or curved manner as described above forend 9 and opening 11.

[0023] In one embodiment, the storage element 7 has a generally circularcross-section (illustrated in FIGS. 1-4). However, it is anticipatedthat alternate configurations of the storage element 7 may be employed.For example, the configuration of the storage element 7 may have agenerally square cross-section, a generally oval cross-section, agenerally triangular cross-section, or a generally hexagonalcross-section. The exact configuration of the cross section will be, inpart, determined by the design and type of lure 14 to be stored instorage element 7, and alternate configurations of the storage tube 7are intended to be covered by the scope of the disclosure. The midpointradii 20 and 22 may also be increased or decreased as dictated by thedesign and type of lure 14. The storage element 7 should be designed toallow for a secure fit around lure 14 without damaging lure 14.Therefore, it is considered within the scope of this disclosure that theconfiguration of the storage element 7 may have any cross-sectionalshape and radius convenient for the storage of lures 14. Thedetermination of such configurations is within the ordinary skill of theart in the field.

[0024] An aperture 18 is located in said floor 4 of said channel 3,adjacent to at least one of said openings 10 and 11. Said aperture 18 issized for receiving the tip of the trailing hook 15 of the fishing lure14 so that it can be secured in place and reduce the possibility ofsnaring other objects. At least one of said outer walls contains aplurality of narrow slots 12, said slots having an appropriate width toallow the end of said leader line 13 to be forcibly secured therethrough. A tab 16 having a hole 17 extends from the periphery of one ofsaid walls to permit hanging of the device.

[0025] Comparing FIGS. 1 and 2, the manner in which a fishing lure 14 isstored using the present invention will now be described. The unattachedend of leader line 13 is threaded through storage element 7. The leaderis pulled through the storage element 7 until the body of fishing lure14 is encased in the storage element 7 and the tip of trailing hook 15of lure 14 is in position to be secured in aperture 18. Leader line 13is then wrapped around channel 3 of spool 1. The unattached end ofleader line 13 is secured in one of the plurality of slots 12 located inone of outer walls of channel 3. It will be appreciated that, sopositioned, lure 14 is protected by storage element 7, and the hooks andleader line of lure 14 are restrained from becoming entangled with eachother or with other lures.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for storing fishing lures, saidapparatus comprising: (a) a spool having a hollow interior and anannular, external channel, said channel having a floor and two outerwalls extending from said floor; (b) a hollow storage element extendingacross said hollow interior of said spool, said storage element having afirst end, a second end, a first midpoint radius and a second midpointradius; (c) said first and second ends intersecting with said floor ofsaid channel and defining a first and a second opening within said floorof said channel, said first and second openings each having a firstopening radius and a second opening radius; and (d) said first openingradius of at least one of said first and second openings being greaterthan said first midpoint radius of said storage element such that atleast a portion of said first or second openings intersects said floorof said channel in a curved manner.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 having aplurality of slots within said walls of said channel.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein at least one aperture is located in said flooradjacent to at least one of said openings of said floor.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said walls contains aplurality of slots, said slots having an appropriate width forpermitting the securement of leader line of a fishing lure.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said spool is made of rigid material. 6.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said storage element is comprised offlexible, non-opaque material.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a tab extending radially from the periphery of one of saidwalls, said tab having a hole.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 where saidstorage element has a generally circular cross-section.
 9. The apparatusof claim 1 where said storage element has a generally ovalcross-section. 10 The apparatus of claim 1 where said storage elementhas a generally square cross-section.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wheresaid first opening radius of at least one of said first and secondopenings is greater than the first midpoint radius of said storageelement, and said second opening radius of at least one of said firstand second openings is greater than said second midpoint radius of saidstorage element such that at least a portion of said first or secondopenings intersects said floor of said channel in a curved manner. 12.The apparatus of claim 8 having a plurality of slots within said wallsof said channel.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least oneaperture is located in said floor adjacent to at least one of saidopenings of said floor.
 14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein at leastone of said walls contains a plurality of slots, said slots having anappropriate width for permitting the securement of leader line of afishing lure.
 15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said spool is made ofrigid material.
 16. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said storageelement is comprised of flexible, non-opaque material.
 17. The apparatusof claim 8 further comprising a tab extending radially from theperiphery of one of said walls, said tab having a hole.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 8 where said storage element has a generally circularcross-section.
 19. The apparatus of claim 8 where said storage elementhas a generally oval cross-section. 20 The apparatus of claim 8 wheresaid storage element has a generally square cross-section.